404 LINSEED AND BEANS. 



LINSEED. 



Linseed, like bran, is an aperient, but, unlike the latter, 

 it rhay be employed to advantage in toning up a horse with 

 a cough or in a debilitated condition or for improving the 

 coat. It is too nutritious to be given to a horse with fever. 

 It may be given raw, either whole or ground, but it is gen- 

 erally used in the form of a mash, either alone or mixed with 

 dry bran or oats. In preparing the mash half a pound 

 should be used for each horse, and the seed thrown into 

 boiling water by the handful. Just enough water should be 

 used to keep the seed covered. As soon as the seeds burst 

 the pot should be removed from the fire and the mash given 

 to the horse before it has become cold. When linseed tea 

 is to be made, one pound of seed should be put in a vessel 

 and a gallon of boiling water poured over the linseed. The 

 seed should not be boiled. The liquid part should be given 

 when lukewarm, and the residuum may be used in the form 

 of a mash for any of the other horses. As a demulcent the 

 linseed should be boiled to a jelly and left until cold before 

 being used. An ounce of seed to a pint of water is the 

 proper proportion when the seed is to be used as a counter- 

 irritant. 



BEANS. 



Beans have an extremely heating effect on horses, and 

 for this reason should not be given to such animals as are 

 compelled to perform fast work. Old beans, which are hard, 

 dry, plump and sweet, may be given to advantage when the 

 work is slow and prolonged. Under these circumstances or 

 when the work necessitates the horse being kept out for 

 any length of time in inclement weather, beans make a very 



